WWJD

It feels to me somewhat like for the past three weeks, when I have not been working I have been looking at cars and so last night my wife and I getting somewhat bored of this but yet still not having found the right car were being a little silly and ended up asking WWJD What Would Jesus Drive? The issue for us is with child number three rapidly approaching we NEED a bigger car, so there are questions like how much bigger? If we buy such and such will we find in 6 months time it’s not big enough, but bigger = more money, so then do we go older with more miles on the clock and save a bit of cash (especially considering the hike in insurance for a bigger car) or do we buy something that’s a bit more but should last longer/have fewer problems? I don’t know, it’s deadline decision on one today so it’s just going through my head so thought I would share it with you. Maybe once it’s decided I will get around to blogging about something more interesting or maybe I’ll just get around to the piece on Argos deliveries I keep mentioning?

Deadlines

I don’t know about you but I am the kind of person who finds a deadline gives me motivation, until it is looming I often find it hard to get focused, most of the time this is fine, a little bit of stress and pressure but under control is good, but then of course you get to one of those stages when suddenly there are several deadlines looming around the same time, and you can’t do all of them at the last minute, I’m sure I need sort out my time management maybe that would help?

Fat and Frantic 2

This seems to be an issue on people heart, the entry that I wrote on Fat and Frantic over a month ago now has had more comments (including one yesterday) that all the posts I have written since put together, I think I shall just write about them from now on as it is obviously a greater discussion starter/community builder.
However I shall be writing the piece hinted at at the end of last week with the Argos deliver saga!

Wild at Heart

Watching Wild at Heart last night, a fantastic series but I find it just makes me even more desperate to go back out to Africa. The beautiful landscape not to mention the animals, I have only been once to Zambia for three weeks back in 2002 but I loved it, not least because I was as well as leading a fantastic youth mission I was staying with some very good friends who I miss greatly. Oh well one day I will be back and hopefully taking the family with me next time.

D.I.S.C.O

I don’t normally work on a Saturday but this week I am, so I’m here in my office above one of the churches in the town, downstairs the hall is being used for a child’s birthday party, complete with cheesy DJ playing at the moment ‘cotton eye Joe’ and there have been plenty of other such classics (I use this word lightly) Needles to say concentrating is not all that easy and I’m beginning to get a headache.
Sorry not to have written much this week, there is stuff to come I have a couple of bits building up just not had a chance to post it yet but what is looking like a great rant coming on the joys of waiting for a parcel!
Oh no Is this the way to Amarillo, I hate that song and I’m sure he’s turned the volume up! I would trip the fuse if it were not in the same room as they are! HELP now the kids are shouting along as well somebody save me!!!!!!

Two things

Yes I have two things for you today, firstly is this the way the church should be advertising itself in the 21st century? (This is an audio link!)
Secondly a very important question:-
What sort of donut are you?

I am a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft. You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out.

What Donut Are You?

Thanks to Sally at Eternal Echoes where i found both of these.

New Home

Well we have now moved and everything seams to be working ok, a few problems earlier in the day so sorry if you tried to come onmebus earlier. The only thing not quite complete yet is the email a touch frustrating but should hopefully be back up and running either later tonight or tomorrow!

Soul Net 2

Here are my reflections after the first session at Soul Net this weekend.
Fantastic start to the conference, a short time of worship followed by a talk from Mike P. Mike started with the story of Geoff a volunteer Youthworker who wanted to be full time, he got his dream job and it was going well, his work was growing. As his work grew he found he got busier, as he got busier he found he spent more time concentrating on the work on the work and less time on his own relationship with God, until eventually it became almost all about the work and sometimes the ‘spiritual stuff’ got in the way of doing the work, praying for too long was a bit over the top etc. At the end of the story he admitted that Geoff was a made up name to protect the true identity, I think we all knew who he was talking about and I’m sure that many like me felt he could have easily been talking about me. Some f the things he said really struck home, the idea that we read the bible to plan this weeks lesson but we perhaps don’t pick it up just for ourselves. I know I can certainly be guilty of this, getting so busy that I don’t have time for what is really important, my relationship with God, also for many of us our relationships with those God has given us our families. Mike clarified that one of the reasons we are at CenterParcs was that it brings us an opportunity for physical refreshing as well as spiritual, I certainly feel that I am in need of both! The passage that sticks in my mind that was referred to was the classic verse from Psalm 27 v 4 “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” This was followed by singing the great Better is one day, “Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house, Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere”. How true these words are yet how often we get so busy that we forget to spend time there.
Lord help me to return to your house, that I may dwell in your presence, that I may draw my strength from you, lord refresh me and renew me, equip me to relate to you and serve you as my response to all that you are and all that you have done that I may serve you as you have called me to do. AMEN.

Soul Net 1

Well back from Soul Net, I have to say it was a fantastic time, it was said during the event that part of the aim was to focus on the youth worker rather than the youth work and I think this was pulled off brilliantly, I feel refreshed and fed which is what I needed, it was also great to be there with Gill and the boys and to get to spend time as a family just enjoying each others company and messing about in the swimming pool (and I don’t even like swimming particularly!) I have written some thoughts on the first seminar which I will post up some time tomorrow, I also wrote some notes during one of the seminars (something I never do) I shall type them up and post them soon as well.
I must just say hi to all those I caught up with a bit while there, it was great to see you all, so hi to Andy, Mary, Milly, Hannah, Jimmy, Debs, Andy, Lee, Margie and Eric Bone (fantastic to see you after all these years!), John, also Nathan who came with us and it was great to get to know Jammy, Emma and Molly a bit, your all great people and I/we loved spending time with you, God bless you all!
Just on one quick final note, I mentioned the other day possible interruptions in service, it is going to happen soon, not sure exactly when but in the next few days hopefully, if you cant find the blog or emails bounce back leave it a while and try again it will all come back to the same address! Cheers

Possible interference

Juts to let you know, onmebus may temporarily disappear, this is due to the fact that I am currently in the process of changing hosting companies and therefore having to move the date to another server. Normal service should be resumed soon, and the address will not change so just watch this space over the coming days (possible week or so!) Thank you.

Tabbed browsing in Firefox

I suspect I am just a bit slow, but I was getting frustrated with clicking a link and it opening up a new window in Firefox, I use the same technique when putting in external links, it was a Firefox issue, I want links that are designed to do that to open in a new tab not a new window, well I have found it, go to tools, options, click the ‘tabs’ tab, there is an option for ‘force links that open in new windows to open in:’ tick this box then the ‘new tab’ box. No more new windows all tabbed browsing excellent!